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5 years after disappearance, judge approves next step in declaring Ayla Reynolds dead

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Updated: 6:34 PM EDT May 30, 2017

5 years after disappearance, judge approves next step in declaring Ayla Reynolds dead

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Updated: 6:34 PM EDT May 30, 2017

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WEBVTT TO DO.DECEMBER MARKED FIVE YEARS SINCEAYLA DISAPPEARED.SHE WAS 20 MONTHS OLD ANDSTAYING AT THE WATERVILLE HOMEOF HER FATHER, JUSTIN DIPIETRO.STATE POLICE HAVE SAID THEYBELIEVE DIPIETRO AND THE OTHERADULTS WHO WERE HOME WHEN AYLAVANISHED HAVE NOT BEENCOMPLETELY HONEST WITHINVESTIGATORS.HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS EVER BEENCHARGED WITH A CRIME RELATED TOAYLA'S DISAPPEARANCE.SEARCHES FOR THE TODDLER TURNEDTHE CASE INTO THE LARGEST ONE INMAINE LAW ENFORCEMENT HISTORY.IN APRIL, AYLA'S MOTHER, TRISTAREYNOLDS, ASKED A PROBATE COURTJUDGE TO APPOINT HER AYLA'SPERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE.EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE JUDGEGRANTED THAT REQUEST. LAST WEEK, REYNOLDS WENT ONESTEP FURTHER, ASKING THE JUDGETO DECLARE AYLA LEGALLY DEAD.HERE'S WHAT A MEMBER OF TRISTA'SFAMILY TOLD US LAST YEAR, >> WE'RE HOPING BY FILING AWRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT THAT THISGETTING THE DIPIETROS IN A COURTOF LAW, UNDER OATH, WILL OPEN UPA LINE OF QUESTIONING THAT THEATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE CANUSE AND FORWARD THEIR CASE.LEGAL EXPERTS SAY THE THRESHOLDFOR A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT ISMUCH LOWER THAN THE THRESHOLD TOFILE CRIMINAL CHARGES.PAUL: ACCORDING TO COURTDOCUMENTS, JUSTIN DIPIETRO NOWLIVES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA.HE DID NOT RETURN OUR REQUESTSFOR A COMMENT TODAY.TRISTA REYNOLDS, HER FAMILY, ANDHER LAWYER ALSO DID NOT WANT TOCOMMENT TODAY, BUT THAT LAWYERSAYS HE EXPECTS TO ORGANIZE APRESS CONFERENCE IN THE COMINGWEEKS.THE NEXT COURT HEARING IS

5 years after disappearance, judge approves next step in declaring Ayla Reynolds dead